Counselor gets surprise 'Thank you'
By Earl Horlyk Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, September 21, 2008
Michelle Norton, right, nominated her former high school couselor Denny Gross for everything he did for her while attending school. Gross, a North High School counselor for more than 11 years, won first prize in the National Thank You Day contest sponsored by Merci European Chocolates and the Emily Post Institute. (Photo by Early Horlyk)
SIOUX CITY - Michelle Norton wanted to find a way to thank her high school counselor for everything he had done for her, but she didn't know how.
Then she learned about National Thank You Day.
So, the 2008 North High School graduate nominated Denny Gross in the Second Annual National Thank You Day Contest.
Selected from among nearly 2,000 entries, a surprised Gross has been named a first place winner in the competition, sponsored by Merci Finest Assortment of European Chocolates and the Emily Post Institute.
National Thank You Day is Monday, "the day to thank those who have shown kindness to you," the Emily Post Institute's Peggy Post said.
Norton said not only has Gross shown her kindness, if it weren't for his encouragement she probably would have dropped out of school.
Diagnosed with diabetes, Norton missed most of her senior year due to hospital stays and illnesses.
"I was so far behind in my studies," Norton remembered, "I didn't know what to do. Since I had missed so much school, I'm sure people thought I had already dropped out. So I thought, why not prove those people right and just give up?"
Gross said he realized how despondent Norton was.
"The way our classes are structured," he explained, "it's tough coming back to class after missing two or three tests."
But Gross said he believed in Norton.
"Michelle's been my student for all four years of high school," he recalled. "I knew how tenacious she was. Once she set her mind to do something, she always went for it."
Gross encouraged Norton to enroll at the Individualized Learning Center, the Sioux City Community School District's alternative high school on Central Campus.
"I knew Michelle would be able to take the classes she needed to graduate and she could take it at her own pace," Gross said.
"Not only did I get straight A's in my classes," Norton said. "I was able to graduate early."
Taking note of his student's scholastic success, Gross worked hard to get Norton a scholarship so she could get into college.
"Michelle didn't come from a family with a lot of means," Gross said. "But I knew where she had been and I knew how much she accomplished in a short amount of time."
"Michelle deserved to go to college," he said simply.
Norton secured a scholarship that would allow her to attend Sioux Falls' Southeast Technical College, where she's studying electroneurodiagnostic technology.
"That's just a fancy way of saying I'll be studying brain waves and learning how to operate those big EKG machines," Norton said, chuckling. "Since I spent so much time in the hospital, it just seemed like a natural fit for me."
But Norton knows if it weren't for Gross' persistence, her life would be much different today.
"Denny gave me the confidence at a time when I wasn't feeling very confident," she said softly. "And I wanted to show him how much I appreciated what he's done for me."
Gross said he was shocked by what Norton did.
"Counselors aren't supposed to get a lot of recognition," the modest Gross said, shaking his head in disbelief. "We act as advocates for our students. But everything we do is behind closed doors. So this is really something."
"I'm am truly humbled by what Michelle has accomplished," he said. "I'm even more humbled that she chose to nominate me for this honor."
Which is what Peggy Post said is the goal of National Thank You Day.
"We live in such a fast-paced world that we seldom get the chance to say thank you to people for their everyday acts of kindness," the wife of the great-grandson of the famed etiquette expert Emily Post said in a telephone interview. "When somebody goes above and beyond like Denny has, they should be recognized for it."
For his accomplishments, Gross will receive a box of Merci chocolates as well as an autographed edition of Post's book, "Excuse Me But I was Next ... The Top 100 Manners Dilemma."
"The recognition is nice," Gross said. "Knowing that I've made an impact on my student's life is even more gratifying."
Then she learned about National Thank You Day.
So, the 2008 North High School graduate nominated Denny Gross in the Second Annual National Thank You Day Contest.
Selected from among nearly 2,000 entries, a surprised Gross has been named a first place winner in the competition, sponsored by Merci Finest Assortment of European Chocolates and the Emily Post Institute.
National Thank You Day is Monday, "the day to thank those who have shown kindness to you," the Emily Post Institute's Peggy Post said.
Norton said not only has Gross shown her kindness, if it weren't for his encouragement she probably would have dropped out of school.
Diagnosed with diabetes, Norton missed most of her senior year due to hospital stays and illnesses.
"I was so far behind in my studies," Norton remembered, "I didn't know what to do. Since I had missed so much school, I'm sure people thought I had already dropped out. So I thought, why not prove those people right and just give up?"
Gross said he realized how despondent Norton was.
"The way our classes are structured," he explained, "it's tough coming back to class after missing two or three tests."
But Gross said he believed in Norton.
"Michelle's been my student for all four years of high school," he recalled. "I knew how tenacious she was. Once she set her mind to do something, she always went for it."
Gross encouraged Norton to enroll at the Individualized Learning Center, the Sioux City Community School District's alternative high school on Central Campus.
"I knew Michelle would be able to take the classes she needed to graduate and she could take it at her own pace," Gross said.
"Not only did I get straight A's in my classes," Norton said. "I was able to graduate early."
Taking note of his student's scholastic success, Gross worked hard to get Norton a scholarship so she could get into college.
"Michelle didn't come from a family with a lot of means," Gross said. "But I knew where she had been and I knew how much she accomplished in a short amount of time."
"Michelle deserved to go to college," he said simply.
Norton secured a scholarship that would allow her to attend Sioux Falls' Southeast Technical College, where she's studying electroneurodiagnostic technology.
"That's just a fancy way of saying I'll be studying brain waves and learning how to operate those big EKG machines," Norton said, chuckling. "Since I spent so much time in the hospital, it just seemed like a natural fit for me."
But Norton knows if it weren't for Gross' persistence, her life would be much different today.
"Denny gave me the confidence at a time when I wasn't feeling very confident," she said softly. "And I wanted to show him how much I appreciated what he's done for me."
Gross said he was shocked by what Norton did.
"Counselors aren't supposed to get a lot of recognition," the modest Gross said, shaking his head in disbelief. "We act as advocates for our students. But everything we do is behind closed doors. So this is really something."
"I'm am truly humbled by what Michelle has accomplished," he said. "I'm even more humbled that she chose to nominate me for this honor."
Which is what Peggy Post said is the goal of National Thank You Day.
"We live in such a fast-paced world that we seldom get the chance to say thank you to people for their everyday acts of kindness," the wife of the great-grandson of the famed etiquette expert Emily Post said in a telephone interview. "When somebody goes above and beyond like Denny has, they should be recognized for it."
For his accomplishments, Gross will receive a box of Merci chocolates as well as an autographed edition of Post's book, "Excuse Me But I was Next ... The Top 100 Manners Dilemma."
"The recognition is nice," Gross said. "Knowing that I've made an impact on my student's life is even more gratifying."
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Alexis wrote on Sep 21, 2008 6:23 PM:
Michele wrote on Sep 21, 2008 8:11 AM:
Great story thanks wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:54 AM:
annonymous wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:08 AM:
Your gentle kindness has always been evident. Congradulations "